ALNAC Reconstituted

ALNAC Seeks Participation of Will County Home-rule Communities;

Jackson Seeks Long-Term Land Lease from Governor

The newly reconstituted Abraham Lincoln National Airport Commission was approved last night when the University Park and Elk Grove Village boards revised an intergovernmental agreement to preserve a partnership that has two world-class private developers financing and constructing the new south suburban airport.

"ALNAC is reconstituted under Illinois Attorney General’s recommendations. We are open for business, open for new members, and eager to secure a long-term land lease from the state so that this essential project can move forward quickly," said Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr.

"We followed the Attorney General’s road map to reconstitute the commission with home-rule communities only. Unfortunately, that means 17 of the current 34 communities in ALNAC must withdraw," said Jackson, who is spearheading the project.

"However, ALNAC is reaching out to 13 home-rule communities in Will and Kankakee Counties and inviting them to join us in building our common economic future," Jackson said.

Under the new Intergovernmental Agreement, ALNAC’s Board of Directors will consist of nine members – at least five being Will County residents. During the construction phase, Cook County home-rule communities will hold four seats. After opening day, Cook loses one seat to a home-rule municipality from Kankakee County.

"In short, our plan gives Will County majority control before, during and after opening day," Jackson said.

Specifically, ALNAC’s new governance structure is as follows:

* During the construction phase, the Board will be comprised of one appointee each from University Park, Park Forest, South Holland, Calumet Park and Elk Grove Village, plus four appointees by the Governor from Will County home-rule communities.

*After Opening Day, Elk Grove Village departs and is replaced by a Governor’s appointment from the Kankakee County home-rule communities.

Jackson today sent letters to 17 non-home-rule communities in ALNAC, thanking them for their support and leadership, and asking them to voluntarily withdraw "for the greater good."

"As a regional leader, you, like me, have always viewed the airport itself as the prize," Jackson wrote to the Mayors of Bensenville, Dixmoor, Flossmoor, Ford Heights, Hazel Crest, Homewood, Lynwood, Markham, Matteson, Midlothian, Olympia Fields, Phoenix, Richton Park, Sauk Village, South Chicago Heights and Steger.

Jackson also wrote to the home-rule community mayors who will continue serving in ALNAC and thanked them for their continued commitment. In addition to University Park and Elk Grove Village, those communities are Burnham, Calumet City, Calumet Park, Chicago Heights, Country Club Hills, East Hazel Crest, Glenwood, Harvey, Hopkins Park, Lansing, Oak Forest, Park Forest, Robbins, South Holland and Thornton.

Finally, Jackson sent copies of the IGA to 13 home-rule communities in Will and Kankakee and asked their municipal leaders to join ALNAC.

"The new IGA honors the existing contract between ALNAC and two prestigious airport builders, LCOR and SNC-Lavalin. The developers – who were selected after a worldwide search and competitive bidding contest – will finance, build and operate Abraham Lincoln Airport similar to ones they already operate in New York, Paris, Vancouver and other international locations," Jackson said.

He added that the Attorney General reaffirmed ALNAC’s contract with its developers, writing: "The Illinois Procurement Code would not apply to the development."

"Most importantly, the new agreement positions ALNAC to seek a long-tem land lease from the State for the airport site. Governor Blagojevich has endorsed the ALNAC plan, but he was waiting for the Attorney General’s opinion about land conveyance. ALNAC is now prepared to begin negotiations with the State for a long-term lease," Jackson said.

Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s opinion stated: "IDOT can enter into an intergovernmental agreement with ALNAC to develop and operate the Airport, through which IDOT retains title to the land but allows its use for the Airport. Alternatively, IDOT, working with the Department of Central Management Services, could lease the Airport property to ALNAC."

"The need for additional aviation capacity is obvious and critically important. There is only one viable design and finance plan – and that’s ALNAC’s. It is time to unite the public and private sectors in order to build an airport and strengthen our economy," Jackson said.

"This airport remains my No. 1 priority, and I hope that others see it that way too. This $300 million private investment in our state comes with no risk or cost to taxpayers, and will create 15,000 new permanent private sector jobs in an area that need them," Jackson concluded.